Kimkim Trip Reviews

Ecuador is an incredible country and I feel so lucky to have visited !! Everything was so wonderfully organized and Alvaro’s dedicated planning made the trip so enjoyable. Each morning we were picked up and shown another incredible part of the country. Highly recommend working with them. Ecuador is such a richly diverse country I would recommend being clear what kind of activities you enjoy (hiking vs relaxation vs cultural activities) etc so the guides may specifically tailor your experience to your interests.

Hotel Reviews

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Charming, clean, and cozy place to stay !! Highly recommend !!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Location

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Activity Reviews

Quilotoa Lagoon - Papallacta

Ecuador

Horseback Riding in Cotopaxi National Park

Cotopaxi

Otavalo Market - Cooking Class - Quito

Ecuador

Cloudforest of Mindo & Return to Quito

Mindo

Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument

Quito

Hotsprings in Termas de Papallacta

Ecuador

All of the guides and van drivers were excellent. All of the hotels were clean and well appointed.

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Loved that this hotel was right on the beach. I wish we had stayed here longer than one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The beach was so close

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

The location of the hotel had amazing views of the ocean; however, to reach the hotel you had to take a boat. There is no dock so the staff had to hold the boat in the surf so that you could climb out of the boat into the water. For older people this is a real challenge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views of the ocean

Staff

Daniel went over and beyond to cater to our every wants. He is such a professional, warm and caring person. Lucky to have him as a staff member.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was at the very top of the mountain location which meant we had to climb about 60 stairs to get up to our room. Also, the bathroom was located on the first floor and the beds on the second floor. There is a spiral staircase leading up to the bedrooms which makes it extremely dangerous going to the bathroom in the middle of the night because if you leave the light on for the staircase it shines directly into the bedroom. Therefore, we had to feel our way down to the bathroom at night which was trickly on a spiral staircase no less!

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

I wish the location of the hotel was not in such a busy part of San Jose.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The views from this hotel were amazing. The room was well appointed and very clean. Staff were very welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

The view of the volcano.

Location

Close to Arenal area.

Staff

All of the staff made sure you had a comfortable stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Love the front porch overlooking the volcano and the back balcony overlooking the mountains.

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Drake Bay

Kendall, our guide, was amazing. It was the best snorkeling experience I have ever had. I am extremely uncomfortable in deep water and Kendall made sure I felt safe with him. We saw some beautiful fish , turtles and stingrays and Kendall dove down and took amazing photos .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our tour guide was very friendly and well versed in the area. A couple of people in our group were afraid of heights and he so patient in helping them overcome their fears of the swinging bridges.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour to Corcovado National Park in Sirena Station

Costa Rica

Our guide, Juan, was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He found all kinds of animals and birds that I could never have seen without his expertise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

I wish the hot springs had been better. The locker rooms were very small and a bit run down. The hot spring was quite small as well. We had dinner at the springs which was a buffet. It really was not up to par.

Quality of Experience

Another hot springs that was not so rundown.

Food

The buffet lacked variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Priscilla and her husband are excellent hosts. She is an amazing cook and the dinner was wonderful! Loved being in someone's home to enjoy the full culture of Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All the guides we had as well as all the drivers we had were kind and caring people. They answered any questions we had and were on time so we never waited. All of our stays were amazing but we had wished we stayed closer to the airport when we arrived and departed.

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Our view from our room was amazing. The people are very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The beach Was beautiful and the room was very nice. We would not have minded to stay two days instead of one

Authenticity & Character

Location

We appreciated having rooms on the beach side of the road since the hotel was on both sides. We had an ocean view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

This hotel was an amazing experience. Our only way to go anywhere was by boat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Very noisy hotel with parties and music. We didn’t have a lot of areas to sit and chat with our friends.The hotel was too far from the airport for our arrival and departure when we passed at least two or three on the road before we got to our destination.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We would’ve like to stay closer to the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

After being a little nervous about walking on the bridges, my guide helped me and made me comfortable with crossing all of the hanging bridges. We really enjoyed this activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our group expected to be in pools that were more authentic with warm Hot Springs water. We felt that we were in regular swimming pools with hot Water running down into the pools of 75° water. Our hike with the volcano was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food at the restaurant was nothing special.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our hosts were truly amazing. We enjoyed our experience helping prepare dinner and then eating our dinner. Our house were friendly, caring and interested in us and our customs

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim paired us with Spanish travel specialist Irene who coordinated our 7-day drive through the Extremadura region southwest of Madrid, after we spent 10 days with friends in Sevilla and Madrid. With minimal Spanish fluency, my husband and I were nervous about driving on our own through the countryside for a week, but Irene managed every detail, allowing us to experience this extraordinary agricultural and historical region. She designed an itinerary that incorporated each destination we requested and hit the mark in every respect, assuring that we felt safe and looked after throughout this part of our journey. She arranged the car rental, reserved exquisite hotels for no less than two-night stays as we requested, and arranged local English-speaking tour guides for each major destination we requested along the way. Although our tours ranged from laidback to frenetic, each guide was prompt, passionate, and informative, aimed to address our interests as well as share their favorite sites and stories, and helped us feel safe and welcome. The best guide for us was Álvaro with whom we spent two full days. An expert in the region’s “dehesa” and agrarian culture, Álvaro shared a thrilling visit to witness as hundreds of newly born lambs were vaccinated and marked to pair them with their mothers, a stroll among a herd of Iberian black pigs, and a tour and tasting at a family-run processing plant for curing ham. Álvaro also guided us through architectural antiquities in Plasencia and through the Monfragüe National Park, including a mountain top hike and birdwatching expedition, and provided two of the most outstanding culinary experiences of our trip: the tasting with the owner of the processing plant and a picnic with his colleague Esther at a panoramic mountainside location. We are grateful to Kimkim and to Irene for her understanding and for meeting our specific requests to create as seamless and stress-free a travel experience as possible.

Hotel Reviews

Parador de Trujillo

Trujillo

Authenticity & Character

Quiet setting, lovely interior courtyard.

Location

great location with rooftop views of centuries old structures. Blocks from the central sites and walled city. Gorgeous sites well within walking distance.

Staff

Front desk staff were attentive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, simple, well appointed.

Hotel Soho Boutique Casa Don Fernando

Caceres

Spacious corner room with a great view of the Plaza Mayor. Airy and bright but easy to black out the windows for sleep and quiet. Good breakfast in convenient dining room. Front desk staff were attentive and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Modern facility in charming renovated building with vestiges of antiquities.

Location

Could not have been better. Directly on the Plaza Mayor, just a few steps from the walled city and numerous bodegas, restaurants, and shops. Parking was a few blocks away, easily manageable one we understood the arrangements.

Staff

Front desk staff were helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room and bed, well appointed.

Hotel Hospes Palacio San Esteban

Salamanca

Wonderful hotel and experience. Comfortable modern room in this historic renovated convent. Excellent breakfast buffet and table service and one of the best dining restaurants of our three-week travel through Spain. Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Peaceful interior courtyard, lovely dining room and bar. Low-key restful throughout. Simple and elegant decorations for the winter holiday season.

Location

We parked once at the hotel and were able to walk everywhere to visit antiquities and local sites of interest. Safe and central location on a side street a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor.

Staff

Helpful front-desk staff. Highly attentive and professional dining room staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, orderly. Felt pampered simply by the ambiance of the facilities.

Activity Reviews

Guided tour in Salamanca

Salamanca

This was a busy tour both because there was much to see and because our guide kept a fast pace to cover a number of sites in limited time. His knowledge and passion of this hometown were evident as was his professional commitment to being a guide. He encouraged us to return later to visit several sites we passed; we were able to return to a couple of them but the initial tour was so rushed that we could not get our bearings and had difficulty finding some locations when we tried to return. Nevertheless, Salamanca was one of our favorite cities to visit in Spain due to its remarkable architecture, profoundly significant 15th-century history regarding discoveries of the "new world," and the presence and influence of the third-oldest surviving university in Europe.

Quality of Experience

We greatly enjoyed touring the university buildings and learning the historical functions of particular classrooms and significant spaces. We were fascinated learn highlights of the history of the university and its alums and leaders and to see the mix of architectural influences on major buildings across centuries of varied cultural, religious, and political influences. We enjoyed the vibe of the city and the mere experience of walking within the central areas.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide had extensive information about the university and the political and religious history of the city.

Excursion in Monfragüe

Trujillo

A tour of this beautiful park was a great change from the urban areas we also visited on this trip to Spain. We enjoyed a mountaintop walk to an ancient Castillo offering amazing 360-degree panoramic view of the area, birdwatching with binoculars and a telescope the guide provided, and a delicious picnic provided by our guide.

Quality of Experience

We were lucky to have a beautiful fall day: sunny and cool. We enjoyed the hike, the vistas, and a great picnic at the end of the day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Álvaro drove us around safely, prioritized our interests and curiosity, and was keenly prepared for each of several varied activities. We felt very well catered to on this day.

Discover the Dehesa

Trujillo

Perhaps the highlight of our three weeks in Spain, the experiences our guide Álvaro shared in the dehesa met and exceeded our hopes for pastoral experiences of the Spanish countryside. He shared deep knowledge and passion for sustainable agriculture and demonstrated an impressive grasp of the intersection of politics, economics, geography, and biology in determining the past and likely future of this region. We got rare glimpses of the workings of animal husbandry due to his investment in and commitment to individuals who work the land and whose efforts maintain the local culture and economy. We strongly recommend this experience for anyone interested to get out of the urban centers and seek to learn about the people and culture of this region of Spain.

Quality of Experience

The sites and experiences on this day were varied, educational, and eye-opening, a welcome difference from our visits to urban areas in Spain. As we moved from one fascinating location to another, Álvaro provided informed commentary to make sense of the land we were traversing and its importance to the economy and culture of the region.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Álvaro's passion for the dehesa was evident from the first moment of the tour. He was flexible to our interests and needs while being driven to share as much as possible about his extensive knowledge and intimate experience with this region and its people. For the full two days of our tour, he got us safely from place to place, making the experience both intriguing and restful. A bonus was meeting his colleague Esther who joined us for an exquisite picnic at the end of our tour.

Transport

Our guide drove us from place to place from early morning into the evening, allowing us to view the terrain and activities he was describing. This made the days feel safe and easy, and kept us from getting weary along the way.

Guided tour in Merida

Mérida

The Roman ruins in Merida were our primary focus and we were thrilled to walk among the ruins of the theater, amphitheater, and Temple of Diana. These spots have enough authentic relics to ground the viewer in their historical relevance and enough restoration to give a feel of their awesome grandeur. Our guide Juan Luis, native to the city, was informed, funny, and responsible to attend to our interests and comfort. Right away, he stepped up to help us find parking, paced our walk among sites to match our interests and stamina, then recommended restaurants for us to access following the tour. He relayed stories of historical importance and reveled in trivia about the daily lives of ancient Romans which made his tour especially fun and engaging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We strongly recommend Juan Luis. His knowledge about local businesses and personalities added richly to our experience beyond the historical sites of interest.

Guided tour in Caceres

Cáceres

The tour began on the steps of the walled city, where we stood too long next to a loud generator that made it difficult to hear and understand our guide; we wish our guide had taken the initiative to step to a quieter spot much sooner. Our guide Javier was relatively low energy and, unfortunately, the night was cold and rainy, which detracted from the experience. Javier was well-informed and shared many intriguing stories and points of history. The sites themselves were stunning and beautifully lit at night. We did not know how long a tour to expect, so when Javier said at several points that we could go into a building or museum then or come back later on our own, we opted not to enter each time in order to walk and see more. In retrospect, I wish Javier had encouraged us to step inside from time to time to get out of the rain and cold. We were able to tour the walled city fairly thoroughly, and did return the next day, but might have enjoyed touring some of the interiors with Javier who had extensive knowledge about the architectural, political, religious, and art history of the city.

Quality of Experience

The walled city of Cáceres was fascinating, ethereal, and allowed a profound opportunity to imagine the lives of generations of inhabitants over the centuries.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What a wonderful trip with a lifetime full of memories! Starting with Yassine who helped me plan out our trip meticulously to every last detail, keeping in constant touch over the 2 year period of our planning and finally making the trip due to Covid! He was wonderful, patient and very prompt in his responses. Amine our driver stayed with us all 10 days and was a wonderful, energetic and very patient resource with lots of local knowledge. He never rushed us and moved us just from point to point but ensured we were satisfied and saw everything we wanted to see and our heart was full before we moved to the next venue. He was such a great company during the road trip and kept us engaged and shared his lovely Moroccan culture and traditions. He took is to some unique and wonderful local places for meals as we requested. He was very courteous and helpful. I have never felt so safe in a country before walking the streets at all times. There are lots of check points and lots of armed police and guards through the city so you feel safe all the time. All the local folks are extremely friendly and warm people. Very welcome people. All our riad stays were exceptional with a very warm and friendly staff! Sa'ed at Marrakesh especially at Riad Anita was wonderful. He accommodated a very early 7 am departure but making us hot, fresh breakfast and didn't give us a premade to go breakfast packet. Just felt warm and welcomed through our visit. This trip, beauty of Morroco and the warmth of the local people will always stay close to our heart. Would highly recommend Yassine and Kim Kim travels and Amine for any of your future travels to Morocco!

My heartfelt thanks to EMI for diligently finding our stargazing picture of Nov. 12. Just a picture of all of us, but it is such a wonderful memory and does mean a lot. THANK YOU!

Janet

Sergio is the best. Honestly he had so much patience and was so helpful with every aspect of the trip. He would have your back all the way! And Costa Rica is the best, thanks Sergio, thanks serendipity and thanks Kim Kim for making such an amazing trip possible. Pura vida!

Our trip to Ecuador for our honey moon was incredible. We were incredibly impressed with every detail from the transport, the food, the scenery and our guides. The overall experience was just one we will never forget. Upon landing in Quito we were greeted by our amazing tour guide Pablo who spent the next 6 days giving us basically our own private tour across the mainland of Ecuador and the amazing Amazon rainforest. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating and we learned so much!!

We went to Galápagos Islands for the end of our trip and again we were taken back by our experience. We absolutely loved our time here. Our lovely tour guide Ricardo greeted us in the Baltra airport and guided us to the beautiful island of Santa Cruz and from there we spent a couple days touring that island and then taking a boat to islabella island for a few days.

Our experience in Ecuador will be a trip that will be hard to top, and we truly think it should be on top of everyone’s bucket list!!!

We can’t thank Kim Kim travel enough for everything and being so accommodating (i failed to previously mention that our flight got cancelled and we almost missed a full day but Juan reorganized everything and we were able to still hit every activity on our itinerary).

Where do I begin! It was such a wonderful experience from start to finish, and our specialists were extremely helpful along the way. We changed our mind on the itinerary a couple of times, but were met with patience and professionalism at all times. I actually ended up booking a different hotel through my work after booking, so we were able to book a different tour instead which was great! Okay, so down to the nitty gritty:

Days 1-5: La Fortuna

We were picked up by our lovely drivers, who I wish I could remember the names of as we met so many amazing people - I really should have written it all down! They made great conversation for the long drive from Liberia, and got us there safely. Our hotel, Brisas Arenal, was unreal. Our room was clean, the beds comfortable, but the best part was the outdoor patio with hammock overlooking the volcano and surrounded by jungle. We booked the Arenal Hanging Bridges and Tabacon Hot Springs & Dinner tour. Alonso was our tour guide and it was so fun! Tabacon is an absolute must and the dinner was delicious. This might have been my favourite tour of the trip. We also did the Sloth and Bird walk, which was the only time we saw sloths thanks to Jose! We saw 4 and he was apologetic that we didn't see more, but he didn't need to be. We were so happy - and we even saw some poison dart frogs that we definitely would not have seen without a guide!

Day 5-8: Monteverde

This was where we switched up the hotel, so we actually didn't book it through Kimkim, but they arranged the transportation from La Fortuna and it was an exhilarating experience! The boat ride across Lake Arenal was lovely. It was my least favourite bus ride (very terrible road conditions and uncomfortable seats), but I would not have travelled there any other way. The scenery through the mountains was incredible! I could not keep my eyes away from the window as those views - wow. Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history.

Day 8-12: Nosara

My favourite place and hotel of the whole trip! Another adventure on the road as the last hour or so is on dirt roads, and all the roads in Nosara are dirt roads which makes it an even more special place. We checked into the Hotel Guiones (formely the Gardens hotel), and was greeted by Specialle, who was lovely and recommended great restaurants and things to do. We did not book any excursions as we wanted to relax on the beach and just enjoy the end of our trip with no place we had to be. The hotel was a 6 minute walk to the beach, so you can surf every morning! We made use of their outdoor yoga pad. The rooms was surrounded by tropical plants and the sound of howler monkeys in the morning. While swaying on the hammock, you can hear the iguanas pitter pattering on the roof. The pool was an excellent addition on the hot afternoons, and the bar, El Local, made the best Chiliguaros that we enjoyed our last night! I will definitely be here again.

This truly was a trip of the lifetime, and I am so grateful to Brittany and those who made it so special. We could not have done it without them!

Hotel Reviews

Brisas Arenal Hotel

La Fortuna

Our room was clean, the beds comfortable, but the best part was the outdoor patio with hammock overlooking the volcano and surrounded by jungle. Just a short taxi into the town for meals, but we did have a couple dinners at the restaurant on side, which we very much enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

amazing view of the volcano, even with cloud cover

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Guiones

Nosara

My favourite place hotel of the whole trip! We were greeted by Specialle, who was lovely and recommended great restaurants and things to do. She recommended we book a paddling tour of the mangrove, which we did and so glad we did! We made use of their outdoor yoga pad which included all the mats and blocks. The rooms was surrounded by tropical plants and the sound of howler monkeys in the morning. While swaying on the hammock, you can hear the iguanas pitter pattering on the roof. The pool was an excellent addition on the hot afternoons, and the bar, El Local, made the best Chiliguaros that we enjoyed our last night! I will definitely be here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I wanted to Surf for maybe an hour the very last morning, and Jorge helped with the board the night before. Thank you!!! And the restaurant staff - amazing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

Senda is a short 10 minute walk into town, however I should add that the way back is all uphill! They had wonderful activities on site, we took advantage of an afternoon yoga class after a long hike. Amazing breakfast and cocktails.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk & Tabacón Hot Springs Visit with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Alonso was our tour guide and it was so fun! Saw a lot of wild life and he was very knowledgeable about the area. Tabacon is an absolute must and the dinner was delicious. This might have been my favourite tour of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

The ceviche was unreal and beef tenderloin - amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the only time we saw sloths the whole thanks to Jose! We saw 4 and he was apologetic that we didn't see more, but he didn't need to be. We were so happy - and we even saw some poison dart frogs that we definitely would not have seen without a guide! He dropped us off in town after so we could explore the shops and restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Leandro team was professional and planned us out a wonderful trip. Overall, the trip, which had many moving parts, went off as planned, and saved us many hours of research. We liked the amount of time spent in each place, the lodging chosen for us, the guide and transportation services. The details were all taken care of, and we could transition from place to place without stress. We found the people we met to be warm and welcoming.
Our Buenos Aires team, tour guide Andrea and driver Fabio, went out of their way to make our few days there memorable. We felt we made some true friendships and had a glimpse of authentic Argentina.
The Explora Hotel experience was one of our most memorable experiences. We didn't understand how it worked, but the all-inclusive experience was fantastic.
Our transition in Puenta Arenas was a bit more confusing. We didn't get timely notification of our transportation arrangements, and the Rey Don Felipe Hotel had us in a tiny room, with no window and a shower in the corner of the room. However, any time we reached out to the tour concierge service, we got a quick response and solution, if needed.
We will use the Kim-Kim platform again.

Sharon's proposed itinerary was excellent- we covered way more of Morocco than we ever imagined we would, without feeling too rushed or as though we had not seen enough of each city. There was also flexibility in tailoring the trip to our requirements based on our interests, budget and timeframes. Sharon was also very easy to contact via Whatsapp if required.
Our guide and driver, Rafiq was excellent- he followed the itinerary but also provided flexibility whilst on the ground to alter the schedule if we wanted to do something different. He was friendly, helpful, knowledgable and made us feel safe and comfortable wherever we went.
A highlight was being able to watch Morocco's World Cup victory against Spain at a local cafe with true local fans- what a buzz! The camping experience in the sand dunes of Merzouga was so surreal- we loved taking the camels to our campsite and arranged to ride quad-bikes on the way back the following morning. Our local guides in Fes, Volubilis, Dades Valley and Marrakech were all fantastic- we learned so much about the history and culture of Morocco. A wonderful and memorable way to spend our 1st wedding anniversary :)

From beginning to end, this itinerary was the perfect balance of Vietnam for the two of us! Every food tour stood out for us. We especially enjoyed riding with the women of Hue trying different food from around the city. Every guide was excellent and was knowledgeable about the area we were visiting. The travel company Mango Tiger was the best travel agency we have utilized in our travel experience! Mango Tiger was responsive and supported our daily adventures. All transportation was seamless and comfortable throughout our stay. All hotel selections were perfect for our preferences. We are kimkim veterans and continue to explore options with this amazing company in our travels. We could not have selected a better partner to make our honeymoon amazing!

All tours provided were on time

We are so incredibly happy with our first experience booking a vacation through KimKim. Samir was wonderful and very accommodating to our needs on such short notice. He was able to get us to every site we wanted to see and connected us with the BEST tour guide in Jordan. The memories we made will last us a lifetime and we cannot wait to come back! Thank you for everything, Samir

My husband and I decided to go to Patagonia for our 10-year anniversary, but we knew there were a lot of logistics. We decided to look around online for help and came across kimkim by chance. From the get go, the responses from Erin and her team we wonderful and so helpful. Erin took the ideas I had in mind for our trip and made them a reality. I really appreciated that she was patient with all of my questions and that she was so quick to get back to me on each aspect of the trip. She even made time to chat with me on the phone when messaging was too hard to convey some of my questions.

Our actual trip was absolutely everything I hoped for and more. Every day we woke up to new adventures that made memories that will be with us forever. It was so easy to have each aspect of the trip planned out and to have transfers that I didn't have to worry about to cart us from place to place. The tours we took were a blast and we loved all of our guides and the staff we encountered. Patagonia was stunning in every aspect and I cannot recommend it enough to people.

Thank you to Erin and her team for making this dream happen. We could not have done it without you!

The whole team was very helpful and knowledgeable with planning our trip. The W trek was an amazing experience. Shout out to Erin especially for all her help, she was wonderful to work with and did a phenomenal job!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vendaval

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Los Cuernos

Torres del Paine - W trek Circuit Reserva Cerro Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio El Chileno

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

Please verify next time before the meeting that we need to bring our stuff for the porter to the meeting and whether or not we need to provide a bag.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Erin did an awesome job and communicated very well with us!

Transport

Direct flight to puerto natales would be preferred

Erin was fantastic and very helpful in planning my trek on the W circuit in Patagonia. Communication was always prompt and concise, and she definitely took the time to answer all my questions.

Thanks to Lise with Trip My France, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Alsace and Paris. Lise helped build an itinerary that met our expectations, with some structured tourism as well as time to discover sites on our own.
The hotels in Colmar (Hotel Le Colombier) and in Paris’ Latin Quarter (Hotel Jardin de Cluny) were excellent. Alsace Safari provided an informative tour of Alsatian cities all decked out for the holidays with just the right amount of driving and walking time in addition to allowing for shopping the Christmas Markets. Ground Transfer services were timely and professional. We especially appreciated John, from JFJ Services in Colmar, who spent extra time making sure we knew how to make the train transfer in Strasbourg.
All the documentation provided by Lise helped us stay on time each day and provided background and historical perspective on what we were experiencing, resulting in an unforgettable vacation!
Many thanks.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Jardin de Cluny

Paris

It’s amazing that this hotel fits in the tiny building. Love the creative use of space. Everyone we encountered - front desk and breakfast service team - was very friendly. The accommodations and public areas were neat and clean, and the bed was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Plenty of nice places to eat in walking distance, and easy to access some of the best sites in Paris from here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Le Colombier

Colmar

Their hospitality was excellent! The front desk staff were very welcoming and joyful and always had answers to our questions. The breakfast service team was very service-oriented and pleasant. The room was very nice, neat and tidy, and the bed was so comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half day guided tour of the Palace of Versailles with priority access in a small group (1 to 15 people)

Paris

When we arrived at Versailles, we were ready to get the tour underway but were told our tickets were timed to enter about 45 minutes later. It felt like wasted time. Our tour guide filled some of that time with historical explanation which basically repeated what the hostess on the bus had shared on the way there. Once inside, the tour was excellent and our guide was very informative. I couldn’t imagine visiting Versailles without a guide like that - we learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hostess on the bus ride was very informative.

Transport

Christmas Gourmet Walking Tour

Paris

Very interesting time in St. Germaine! Our guide was well-informed and we moved at a comfortable pace. It was nice to be in a small group (just one other couple was on this tour with us) as the shops are very small and the sidewalks very narrow, but it was easy to stick together.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

This experience is all about the views - seeing Paris highlights at night from the river was beautiful. We appreciated the window seats and excellent drinks included (champagne and wines each course). The menus were fine dining, our meals just weren’t very hot which I understand is a challenge in this setting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

Skip the line visit of the Louvre with audioguide (tickets only)

Paris

Absolute tour of Strasbourg

France

Gabriel was our tour guide and he clearly knows and loves Strasbourg. It was just long - three full hours of walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was full 3 hours of walking, just know that in advance.

Magical Christmas & Wine Tasting Half-Day Tour

Colmar

Loved seeing the cities in the small group (only two other guests were on the tour) and our guide was excellent, providing historical perspective and explanations of local culture. His vehicle was in great shape and he’s a trustworthy driver. However, there was no wine tasting on this tour, as the title implied.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dat was amazing and was always quick to assist in our planning and final execution of our last minute trip to Vietnam. After seeing enough videos and reading about the typical pitfalls encountered by tourists in Vietnam, we decided to go with kimkim and coordinate with Realistic Asia in planning a two week trip through the cities and rural areas of Vietnam.

Our trip began in Hanoi and ended in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), with Hoi An, Ha Long Bay and Phu Quoc as stops along the way. Our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and gave us individual attention throughout our tours. One tour guide, Hue, should be mentioned as being particularly kind and going above and beyond what we expected. He was funny, quick with information and connected with us in a way that made us feel comfortable. He shared his personal experiences and gave us a guided tour that felt authentic and gave us insight into a country that has always fascinated us.

During one part of our trip, we discovered that the bicycles were not the type that my wife was comfortable with and Dat was able to change our itinerary at the last minute and adjusted that day to accommodate. While this change could have incurred additional fees to our trip, Dat and his company made the changes without any further charges. We were grateful and surprised by their generosity.

All the hotels we stayed in were beautiful and luxurious in their accommodations. The one hotel, La Siesta Group, deserves special mention for their friendly and professional staff. Ms. Ngoc in the La Siesta Hotel was particularly helpful in getting a last minute birthday cake ready for my wife and with her help, capped off a great day, better with her coordination of the birthday cake.

Dat checked in with us during the entire trip and made sure that we were taken care of and answered all my questions before and during the trip. We were sure we would enjoy our trip, but with his planning, it was just a great experience with all the drivers and the tour guides taking us everywhere and making sure our experience was seamless and memorable.

We're grateful for Realistic Asia and Dat for making this last minute trip a reality and will definitely consider another trip with them, if we make plan another trip into this beautiful country.

Thank you Dat and Realistic Asia!

Our trip was fantastic. From the moment we arrived until we departed, we were covered. We had wonderful guides, hotels, and transportation. I would highly recommend our guides in both Istanbul and Cappadocia. They were full of information helping us to step back in history and experience the deepness of each location. All of our excursions were well planned and exceptional. We enjoyed the cooking class, the Turkish Bath, and the balloon ride. Our hotel on Istanbul was comfortable and centrally located. We loved the mansion hotel we stayed at in Cappadocia. The staff was incredible and the property was incredible. Overall, we were very pleased with our entire Turkey experience!

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn by Radisson Istanbul Airport (Odayeri)

Istanbul

We just stayed at this one the night before we left. It was clean and comfortable. I would not recommend going to the on site restaurant. It was not good and the service was terrible. Only about 15 minutes from the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arena Hotel Sultanahmet

Istanbul

This hotel is in a central location. It was quiet and comfortable. The breakfast was very good . The place had a nice feel to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gül Konaklari Sinasos (Rose Mansions Sinasos)

Nevsehir

This was our favorite part of Cappadocia. We loved this beautiful mansion hotel. The property was unique and the staff was incredible. We also enjoyed the gourmet food and the service. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Cappadocia.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful mansion

Location

In a quiet village

Staff

Very friendly and helpful. They were incredible!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfy.

Activity Reviews

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

This was the best experience of my life. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The building was beautiful and the spa treatment was incredible. I felt like a true princess from the minute I got there until the moment I left. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this Turkish Bath.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class: Delve into Ottoman Cuisine at Old City Istanbul

İstanbul

The chef was amazing. We had so much fun and got to eat what we prepared. This was definitely one of our favorite activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Nice place to learn about the history of Istanbul. Our guide was excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport